Cost of Living Comparison Between Medina and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Medina and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Medina is 13.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 14.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medina is 8.2% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 26.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55 SAR 20.83
$11.99 MX$227
-53.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.01 SAR 120
$42.47 MX$803
-24.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.8 SAR 29.26
$10.47 MX$198
-25.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 SAR 5.83
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.7 SAR 6.39
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.54 SAR 9.52
$3.6 MX$68.2
-29.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 SAR 2.85
$1.44 MX$27.16
-47.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 SAR 1.55
$0.89 MX$16.79
-53.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09 MX$58.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.58 MX$86.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 SAR 6.06
$1.38 MX$26.04
17.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 SAR 3.5
$1.85 MX$34.9
-49.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.3 SAR 8.62
$1.57 MX$29.68
46.50%
Eggs
$2.11 SAR 7.93
$2.55 MX$48.3
-17.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.69 SAR 25.09
$8.61 MX$163
-22.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.16 SAR 26.85
$8.54 MX$161
-16.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.53 SAR 46.99
$10.98 MX$208
14.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 SAR 8.88
$2.72 MX$51.4
-12.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 SAR 8.04
$1.51 MX$28.57
41.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 SAR 8.06
$1.88 MX$35.63
14.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.7 SAR 6.38
$2.19 MX$41.42
-22.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 SAR 5.38
$1.87 MX$35.3
-23.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 SAR 5.41
$2.19 MX$41.37
-34.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 SAR 3.69
$1.07 MX$20.23
-8.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 SAR 3.24
$1.09 MX$20.64
-21.10%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.34 SAR 5.04
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 SAR 6.3
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 SAR 5.91
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.44 SAR 27.91
$3.96 MX$74.9
87.88%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$8.86 MX$167
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.72 MX$32.53
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61 MX$49.37
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 SAR 3.95
$0.52 MX$9.74
101.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.06 SAR 139
$26.59 MX$503
39.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.3 SAR 4.88
$3.24 MX$61.2
-59.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 SAR 6.42
$2.38 MX$44.94
-28.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 SAR 21.46
$3.11 MX$58.7
83.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 SAR 2.23
$1.31 MX$24.85
-54.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K SAR 79K
$30.3K MX$573K
-30.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K SAR 80.4K
$24K MX$453.6K
-10.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 SAR 764
$84.2 MX$1,592
141.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.28 SAR 125
$22.14 MX$419
50.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101 SAR 380
$30.14 MX$570
236.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.3 SAR 286
$52 MX$983
46.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.63 SAR 32.38
$18.72 MX$354
-53.90%
Cinema Ticket
$13.48 SAR 50.6
$5.07 MX$95.9
165.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$292 SAR 1,095
$200 MX$3,787
45.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,581 SAR 28.4K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
42.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.67 SAR 138
$35.74 MX$676
2.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2 SAR 203
$39.8 MX$753
36.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.5 SAR 249
$79 MX$1,493
-15.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.2 SAR 368
$88.4 MX$1,671
11.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 SAR 1,616
$965 MX$18.3K
-55.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$567 SAR 2,127
$474 MX$8,968
19.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$717 SAR 2,691
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-56.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$410 SAR 1,537
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-65.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,845 SAR 14.4K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
24.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,097 SAR 4,114
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-85.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,317 SAR 4,942
$792 MX$15K
66.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
11.42
-73.73%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medina: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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